Page 8 - CinemaRecord #77C

NEWSREEL THEATRE NEWS
CINEMA AND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
PERTH: The new $500-million, 15,000-
seat, multi-purpose Perth Arena has opened
to replace the iconic Perth Entertainment
Centre which once graced the site. (Seen
here abandoned and derelict.)

BUSSELTON: The Busselton Drive- QUEENSLAND
In Theatre celebrated its 52 Birthday
nd
in December. SURFERS PARADISE: The twin-screens
of the Gold Coast Arts Centre Cinemas
SOUTH PERTH: Grave concerns are held for have retired their 35mm film projectors and
the future of the single-screen Cygnet Cinema. installed Dolby digital equipment.
Opened in 1938 as the Como Theatre, the
art-deco gem has been lovingly maintained CHARTERS TOWERS: The council-
but may be forced to close within six months owned World Twin Theatres has tendered
being unable to afford the $100,000 needed to for the installation of digital cinema,
upgrade to digital projection. including 3D as part of a $200,000 revamp,
of which $80,000 will come from a State
SOUTH AUSTRALIA Government grant.

KADINA: The Ascot Cinema (ex Ideal POMONA: Damaged during the floods
Theatre) reopened as a 260-seat cinema of February 2012, the pipe-organ at the
from January 3. Run by Statewide Cinemas Majestic Theatre has been undergoing
who also operate the cinema at the Moonta restoration over the last year, subject to
Town Hall. Digital projection equipment ongoing fundraising for up to $40k.
was installed at Moonta in mid-December, Community owners, Pomona Arts Inc. also GLADSTONE: Disused since 2001, the
followed by Kadina. hope to install a glass viewing window and Civic Theatre was demolished in February.
interpretative signage for the organ.
GOODWOOD: A new Barco 2K19B YATALA: The Drive-In opened a new third
digital projector has been installed at the BUNDABERG: $55,000 has been spent on a screen with digital projection on December 21.
Capri Cinema and went into use from facelift for the exterior of the council-owned
December 13. Moncrieff Theatre (ex Olympia/Crest). The
facade was replastered and then re-tiled by NATIONAL:
GLENELG: Work on a $15 million two- December, and council plans to refurbish the
storey retail and office complex at the site exterior signage. The Bauer-3 film projectors There is concern that the demise of 35mm
of the demolished Wallis Glenelg Cinema that have been in service since 1974 are being film may mean fewer old films to see in a
Centre (ex 1937 Ozone) on Jetty Rd is due replaced by a digital system. cinemas. Whilst titles like Lawrence of
to start in late March. Arabia will be transferred to high quality
(hard drive) Digital formats, thousands
of lesser titles will never be upgraded
BARMERA: Major works on the historic
Bonney Theatre were completed in late leaving only deteriorating film prints or low
November. These included structural, resolution DVD formats for exhibition.
plumbing, roofing and electrical
upgrades as well as painting and all new Newsreel Contributors: Peter Woolnough;
Colin Flint, Peter Smith, William Gray; Crosley
carpets throughout. Carpenter; Rod Smith, Steve Maggs, Tom
Shouten & others.

8 2013 CINEM AREC ORD